Read a full report of England's Under-20 Toulon Tournament tie with Brazil in
Toulon, France on Monday, May 26, 2014

England’s chances of progressing to the final of the Toulon Tournament are hanging by a thread after they were overpowered by a bruising Brazil team.

Brazil’s youngsters, as one would expect, play a high-tempo game but they started with a direct and physical approach. Gareth Southgate, who had seen his charges brush aside Qatar 3-0 in their opening match, said he looked forward to his youngsters being given a real test but he will be disappointed with the manner in which his side fell behind in the eighth minute of last night’s match as Thalles emerged from a crowd of players to burst into the box.

With defenders drawn to the Vasco de Gama man, the ball fell loose and Alisson sneaked between Michael Keane and Jack Butland to scramble home from close range.

The goal shook England and Saido Berahino was unlucky to see an attempted chip blocked before Nathan Redmond forced Marcos into a smart save 10 minutes later.

The first half largely proved to be a midfield battle though, with both sides finding clear chances hard to come by and both keepers left equally untroubled.

If the dry pitch had contributed to that scrappy first half, it also aided Brazil’s second goal six minutes after the restart.

With England comfortably passing the ball across the back, a cruel bobble sent Liam Moore’s pass into the path of Lucas Silva. He held off the challenge of Luke Garbutt, before striking a low shot past Butland from just inside the area.

England made it interesting with nine minutes to go though, as Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse pulled a goal back when he curled a free-kick into the top corner after a handball from Gilberto.

With Cauley Woodrow introduced as a secondary striker to support Berahino and Redmond’s pace and drive on the flank, England began to ask more questions. But Brazil managed to hold out for victory to make them favourites to top Group B and progress to Sunday’s final in Avignon.

Now England must win their two remaining matches – against second-placed South Korea on Tuesday and bottom club Colombia on Friday – to stand any chance of reaching the final on 1 June. Even then they must hope Brazil, who have won all three group games, lose their final game against Qatar on 30 May.